Monday, October 14, 2013

My love affair with clouds

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.” ~Rabindranath TagoreAnyone who is a Facebook friend of mine or follows me on Instagram knows about my love affair with clouds. Few things in nature fascinate me the way that clouds do. They are Mother Nature’s very own Rorschach test. If you and a friend are looking at a cloud formation, chances are you’ll both see something completely different. In this respect, clouds are the most subjective thing in nature.

Another amazing thing about clouds is the fact that they are ever-changing…literally every second. A cloud formation at any given moment in time is unique tothat moment and that moment alone.I mean how romantic a notion is that?Do you take the time to appreciate the beauty in the clouds?

I love the beauty of the clouds Keith, I used to lay in the grass with my oldest and point out what I could see and she would do the same... I have been thinking I have missed out on that with my Valentina... I will remedy that... you are right the sky changes in seconds but it is always interesting :)

I am constantly amazed at the beauty of cloudscapes. I have to admit to being pretty rubbish at finding images in them, but they are nevertheless breath-taking! Even flat grey-white skies are seldom that flat or grey-white and they create such a wonderful light that brings out the colour in everything in a way that cloudless skies don't.

Keith, your post reminded me of lots of things about clouds but three in particular.1. As children we would lay on our blankets under the shade of our big mango tree and imagine the what shapes the cloud formations represented. Such fun and imagination.2. Learning at school weather related knowledge about clouds, fascinating!3. The very first time I saw clouds from a plane, the sight still thrills me.It's interesting too that many childrens first drawing aside from stick figures is the sun and, clouds!Have a great week Keith.

I love looking at clouds. I've been known to look up at the sky as I'm walking... and then bumping into things, obviously! Twilight clouds are particularly beautiful, but bright white clouds on a deep blue sky are striking! To answer your question, apparently yes I do appreciate clouds quite a bit :-)

Gosh yes, I do...every day!I have been fascinated with clouds all my life. I have even been known to turn to them as an oracle at difficult times in my life when I've needed guidance. Their "advice" is amazing...and always accurate!

Clouds are one of the most completely fascinating facets of nature. As you said, they are ever-changing and never the same. Although clouds are supposedly white, they have an infinite array of color tones - from the sun, the light, shadows, and time of day.I also love to see clouds gilded by moonlight.

I watch "Strangest Weather on Earth" (Weather Channel), mainly because bizarre and strange clouds are most often the featured stories.

Just last night I learned about a 600 mile (!!!) cloud that randomly rolls across a part of Australia--only in Sept or Oct--called the Morning Glory. It was totally amazing, like a monstrous rogue wave only in the sky.

Hubby and I were at Lake Pontchartrain watching a sunset on Saturday and I kept pointing out all these things I was seeing in the clouds. He never saw what I saw. I always say the clouds are God's paintbrush.

Oh yes. From the comfort of my hammock, I search the skies for familiar shapes. You are right about how they don't last long and often they morph into an entirely different form. I love the constant changing.

I fear I take too much time appreciating the beauty of clouds...I have to watch myself so I don't run into a tree or a wall. Love the movement , the energy, the fierceness or serenity, and how incredible it is when one flies through it!!! I always ask myself which elements of nature I love most and I cannot come up with an answer. : )

My favorite ones are during the summer when sunset is approaching and a storm is brewing. The oranges make the blues that much deeper and they go nicely with the bright green of the corn fields. Terrible and beautiful all at once.

I do! I guess I got it from my Dad, who was a meteorologist in the Air Force when I was young. Even now he points out cloud formations and we discuss weather patterns and stuff like that. A few times my sisters and I had to remind him to keep his eyes on the road, instead of the clouds, when he would drive!

It bugs me when a student paints a sky, and makes it flat blue. Sure sometimes it looks that way, but most of the time there are variations in the sky. Part of me thought it would be good to hand out different skies on a midterm, or final test day, and test them on how close they could get to their picture. They could use any medium they want. I just want it to match.

I love two things you said in this post: "They are Mother Nature's very own Rorschach test," and "A cloud formation at any given moment in time is unique to that moment and that moment alone."

I love both of those thoughts. I've always loved clouds, but it was during my Earth Science class when we learned about the different types of clouds that I learned that you could "read" clouds and sort of know what was going to happen. The notion fascinated me then, and continues to this day.

I love nothing more and I mean it...in cloud category...than watching a thunderstorm brew in Tucumcari and blow my way...such power and beauty, those storms that roll across the plains take my breath away and the thing I miss most about summer

Yes. For two reasons. One I work in them. Literally. Nothing like flying through a thunderstorm in the summer and watching those beauties at 38,000 feet. Second, I grew up watching them come over the continental divide in Colorado. Fascinates me to this day.

Keith, I've always enjoyed looking at the artwork created by the clouds. I learned to do it as a kid and I loved watching the clouds. My son and I would lay in the grass and point out different animals, faces, things as we saw them. He's 18 and when we're driving in the car we'll still point out a cloud and say, look at that! Doesn't it look like a...? It's something that relaxes and gives a moment of peace and a happy smile. :-)

Clouds are great - I sat and waited to decent rain for 10 years here - I always like clouds!

I somewhere along the line you asked if the last bird I posted was about the same size as a humming bird - I think my birds are about the same size as you largest hummers - I keep forgetting that people in the US don't speak metric!

Hi Keith .. I've always loved clouds and how they skit across the sky, weave, wrap and create new pictures for us to dream into ... lying on the warm ground looking up and watching those wispy formations is entrancing ... cheers Hilary

As a rare blood courier, driving at all times of the day, I am repeatedly stunned by the sunset and dawn fiery clouds. During the day, the clouds are living brushstrokes upon an azure canvas. Great post. Check your email for a Halloween gift from me. I hope you think it more treat than trick! :-)

Mother Nature's Rorschach test! Truly said!I am a cloud-gazer too :D and I love watching them float and change shape. But one thing that disappoints me is that cameras never do justice to their beauty. I keep trying but the glorious hues can never be captured perfectly.

I love looking at clouds, but it wasn't until I started flying that I realize they weren't all ephemeral bits of fluffiness. I distinctly remember that, whenever we passed into one, the plane would all shake up.We never went into thunder clouds, though. We figured that if those puffy white ones shook us up, the boomers would knock us out of the sky.

I love clouds! I've reviewed two excellent books about clouds on my blog you can read the first one at http://craftygreenpoet.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-invention-of-clouds-by-richard.html and it links to the second one.

I love clouds. I once worked near the top of a Houston skyscraper. In the summer I could watch thunderheads build outside my window. It was like watching a timed photography movie in real time. Hope that makes sense. It was awesome to see.

yes... a cloud watcher since birth ... fluffy white thangs to low down and dirty thangs... with ripples and waves ... coming at me while driving in a desert.. or waving as they go by while I'm just lying around ....

I always enjoy your cloud pictures. I've always enjoyed looking at them and making out shapes or watching them move. I remember when I was younger and my sister was on a plane for the first time she came back and told me that she had fallen asleep and when she woke up they were in the middle of a cloud. I thought that sounded like the most beautiful and magical thing ever. I still think of that whenever I'm on a plane and we fly through a cloud.

When I am sitting in the back room I love watching the clouds go by at any time of the day. I can see all kinds of things in them. I was just outside this evening and noticed the clouds look like the sand in the ocean when it is is low tide.

I too have a love affair with clouds. While flying (not on my broom) I always take photos of clouds and I've been know to pull other while driving just to capture the way a certain cloud looks at that moment. I just got back from Ireland about a month ago...everything was beautiful there especially how the clouds complement the many shades of green of the landscape.

O, I love clouds too. And in a crowded city like ours, with high-rises and office buildings blotting so much of the sky, looking up at an expanse of cloudy formations is a real treat. I especially love them when they're dark and grey and heavy, because they're such gorgeous portents of rain.

Ahh. Clouds in the sky at sunset is one of my favorite things. They create a cornucopia of color and contrast. Granted someone once told me the color comes from pollution, but I care not. Your blogs bring me inspiration and a sense of joy. Thank you so much for that.

All the time. :)Totally obsessed...Today we had a most surreal and magnificent sky...multilayered...dark sky, blue sky, high white clouds...and low fast moving gray clouds...all at the same time! Amazing....Hope your Sunday is lovely...- Irina

I've always loved clouds. When we go on holiday, while my husband is photographing buildings, I'm often photographing the clouds in the sky. I agree, they are of the moment, and the moment always keeps changing. They are just beautiful in any weather. Thanks for a nice reminder.

I adore clouds. I love that if you know a lot about them you can predict the weather and if it will change. I love that how beautiful and soft they look - like a giant pillow. And I love how they create patterns and shapes in the sky. Love clouds

Hi.I was browsing through some of your posts today, and this one caught my eye, as I have a thing for the clouds too! It's fun to look for images in the clouds, and one time I saw a heart and a dog. The clouds are amazing, aren't they?

I can relate to many of your posts, and I look forward to reading your next one.